Road Wars- Cars versus pedestrians in Toronto- Lissy D.

I came across an article on Treehugger.com (great website, embarrassing name) about the tension between pedestrians and cars in the large city of Toronto, Canada:  http://www.treehugger.com/urban-design/speed-kills-torontos-top-doctor-wants-speed-limits-reduced-protect-pedestrians.html

The article explained how members of the Toronto Board of Health are attempting to lower speed limits to encourage pedestrian traffic.  In an in depth report, the board of health outlined the advantages of a safer walking environment for pedestrians.  I didn’t really conceptualize how pedestrian traffic was connected to public health, but this report opened my eyes to exactly how intertwined the health of the city is with pedestrian laws.

Physical and mental health of the people of the city was discussed.  The report showed how increasing the ease of physical activity in the city would improve the mental health of the citizens while in turn improving the physical health.  Diabetes and obesity would decline and the effects on the city’s health care would outweigh infrastructure costs.  There were many other benefits of the increase of pedestrian and cycling pathways through the city, and it’s hard to see how anyone could disagree with the amazing amount of logic and research that went into the report.

Unfortunately, according to the article, Toronto’s mayor and deputy mayor are very much on the side of cars in the city.  In fact, an article in CBC News Toronto online (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2012/04/11/doug-holyday-council659.html) explained his contempt for cyclists and union members, urging inhabitants of the city not to vote for them.  This idea of the leaders of a city being so firmly against the requests of the inhabitants shows how hard it can be for legislation to be passed.  This is a problem that applies to any city attempting to pass controversial legislature.  Often times, it seems, cars take precedence to humans.